Delivered at:: Department of Applied Economics

Course type:: Elective course

When:: 4 year, 3 module

Instructor

Besstremyannaya, Galina

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course outlines major economic issues pertaining to incentivizing growth and fostering various structural changes of the economy. Along with examining common economic problems of the low and middle-income countries, the course will focus on the current economic concerns of the developed countries: decreasing inequality across individuals and companies, developing the technology economy, promoting energy efficiency and the use of environmentally friendly technologies, the positive and negative effects of the cultural factors in political economy and corporate governance, and retransformation of economic systems. The course will draw upon the innovative experience of the US and Japan, and will examine economic changes in the BRICS countries, with an emphasis on the technology and energy policy in Russia.

Learning Objectives

to focus on the key economic problems of the low and middle-income countries, as well as to outline major issues of fostering economic growth

Expected Learning Outcomes

learn the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality
learn the models for economic growth and technological change
learn the approaches to economic analysis of the policy changes in various countries
learn the examples of policy interventions and the determinants of their success

Course Contents

Week 1. Contemporary issues in development economics, poverty and inequality
Poverty and other key problems of the low and middle-income countries. Major tasks for the developed countries concerning various types of inequality. Statistical and econometric analysis of income distribution.
Week 2. Growth through technological change
Solow and Romer models, and variant with technological change. Empirics of the Solow and Romer models. Neoclassical growth models, growth and technological change. Evaluation of economic performance and cross-country differences
Week 3. Environment and sustainable development
Market failures, externalities and environmental policy. Macroeconomics of energy use: technology choices by energy firms and the long-term growth. Household energy consumption. Use of patent statistics for measuring technology gaps.
Week 4. Human capital: health, labor and productivity
Measuring human capital and investing in human capital. Deprivation in access and utilization of healthcare and education. The empirical evidence and approaches to analyzing heterogeneity in household and individual choices.
Week 5. Political economy of innovation
Protection of intellectual property rights, innovation and growth. R&D tax credits, corporate inequality and firm growth. Innovation subsidies and their effectiveness. Competition and innovation in Russian industries.
Week 6. Transformation of economic systems
The phenomenon of the US Silicon valley. Reforms in the corporate governance and regulation in Japan. Changes in the planned economies: a Chinese example.
Weeks 7,8. Presentations of the final essays
Week 9. Final test
Sections: Major international databases on the development indicators and the macroeconomic indicators. HSE data on companies/households. Main casual approaches and applied techniques for econometric analysis: with an application to estimating inequality, measuring economic growth and conducting policy evaluation

Assessment Elements

Final essay and its presentation
Late work (mid-term essay and final essay) is discounted at 50%.
Mid-term essay
Late work (mid-term essay and final essay) is discounted at 50%.
Class/sections participation
Final test

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (3 module)
0.2 * Class/sections participation + 0.4 * Final essay and its presentation + 0.3 * Final test + 0.1 * Mid-term essay

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Todaro, M. P. . (DE-588)120058022, (DE-576)163325057. (2006). Economic development / Michael P. Todaro; Stephen C. Smith. Harlow: Pearson Educational, Addison Wesley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.120376784

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Besley, T. (2016). Contemporary Issues in Development Economics. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1231539
Hayami, Y., Gōdo, Y., & Oxford University Press. (2005). Development Economics : From the Poverty to the Wealth of Nations (Vol. 3rd ed). Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=257819
The dynamics of socio-economic development : an introduction. (2005). Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsnar&AN=edsnar.oai.pure.tue.nl.publications.fa6052af.f362.41a5.8741.82fa25dc3ef4
Timothy Besley, Maitreesh Ghatak, To Madhav Aney, Oriana B, Oliver Denk, Avinash Dixit, … Ragnar Torvik. (2009). Chapter for Volume V of the Handbook of Development Economics edited by Dani. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.5EC7DD27
Trott, P. (2017). Innovation Management and New Product Development (Vol. Sixth edition). Harlow, Enlgand: Pearson. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1419855

Bachelor’s Programme 'Economics'

Contacts

Development Economics